From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstrangestrange1 /streɪndʒ/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective (comparative stranger, superlative strangest) 1 STRANGEMYSTERIOUSunusual or surprising, especially in a way that is difficult to explain or understand SYN odd strange noises Does Geoff’s behaviour seem strange to you? She felt there was something strange about Dexter’s voice. Isn’t it strange how animals seem to sense danger? It’s strange that we’ve never met before. For some strange reason, I slept like a baby despite the noise. Strange as it may seem, I actually prefer cold weather. That’s strange. I was sure Jude was right here a second ago. The strange thing is all four victims had red hair.strange to say British English (=strangely) Strange to say, I was just thinking that myself.2 STRANGEsomeone or something that is strange is not familiar because you have not seen or met them before As a child, she’d been taught never to speak to strange men. I was just 20, a young girl in a strange city.strange to It was all strange to him, but he’d soon learn his way around.3 → feel strange —strangeness noun [uncountable]THESAURUSstrange unusual or surprising, especially in a way that is difficult to understand, or that is a little frighteningWhat’s that strange noise downstairs?That’s strange – I’m sure I left my keys on the table.a strange old manfunny/odd especially spoken a little strange and making you feel slightly surprised or worriedThere’s a funny smell in the kitchen.It’s odd that you can’t remember him at all.curious especially written strange, especially in an interesting way. Curious is a little more formal than strangea curious factThere’s something rather curious about small-town America.She remembered curious little details.mysterious strange – used about something that people know little about and are unable to explain or understandHe had disappeared in mysterious circumstances.There were reports of mysterious lights in the sky.eccentric strange in a way that seems slightly crazy and amusing – used about people and their behaviourHe lived completely alone and had some slightly eccentric habits.an eccentric old ladypeculiar slightly strange, and different from what you would normally expect – used especially when this is either amusing or worryingShe sometimes wears rather peculiar clothes.He had a peculiar expression on his face.very strangeweird very strange or very different from what you are used toI had a weird dream last night.It’s a weird and wonderful place.bizarre extremely strange and different from what is usually considered normalIt was a bizarre situation.Mark’s behaviour was really bizarre.surreal extremely strange and unconnected with real life or normal experiences, like something out of a dreamHis paintings are full of surreal images.There is something surreal about the climate change talks in Bali.The plant’s flowers were so big that they seemed almost surrealuncanny very strange – used especially about someone having an unusual ability to do something, or looking surprisingly similar to someone She had an uncanny knack (=ability) of putting her finger right on a problem.Alice had an uncanny resemblance to Josie.his uncanny ability to pick racing winners
Examples from the Corpus
strange• The description, which I had read in a recent newspaper account, had struck me as infinitely ironic and strange.• Ten days in an alien village with a total stranger and her totally strange family.• I thought it was a little strange, and then I remembered the photograph behind his desk in his office.• You say she's at home? That's strange because she told me she was going abroad for two weeks.• His strange behaviour made Teresa suspicious.• It was hard for her, going to live in a strange city where she knew no-one.• Meryl was lost and all alone in a strange city.• He was a little nervous about moving to a strange country where he didn't know anyone.• I had a strange feeling that I'd been there before.• The strange food made her ill.• Pearl was a strange girl who never played with the other children.• Gabby is a strange girl.• Marla has some strange ideas about raising children.• It was strange, learning to make decisions together.• Mum, come quick! There's a strange man coming up the path.• Can you check out that strange noise outside?• A strange noise woke her up.• a strange noise• He looks after the mentally retarded man, Lennie, and their relationship is a strange one.• Condemned men often find a strange peace as the hour of their death comes closer.• It was strange that she had had this baby with red hair when both she and her husband were very dark.• It's strange that you've never met him - he lives in your street.• He seemed to know lots of things about me, but the strange thing is I didn't even tell him my name.• Blue speaks her name, in a voice that seems strange to him, and she stops dead in her tracks.• I could hear strange voices outside the room.• Amanda's eyes glowed in a strange way, like a cat's.• He's very strange - you never really know what he's thinking.something strange about• Was there something strange about her expression?• There was something strange about La Belle Mimosa and her egg.• In 1973, Debbie Mack, a student at Northwestern University, noticed something strange about the sorority sisters she lived with.• There was something strange about the two officers.• There was something strange about these and they seemed to scare me though I could not take my eyes away.• There is something strange about these rabbits.strangestrange2 adverb [only after verb] American English UNUSUALin a way that is unusual or surprising SYN strangely The cat’s been acting really strange – I wonder if it’s sick.Examples from the Corpus
strange• The downtown streets were strangely empty and peaceful.• Witnesses said the man was carrying a gun and behaving strangely.• The dog's been acting strange all week.Origin strange1 (1200-1300) Old French estrange “foreign”, from Latin extraneus; → EXTRANEOUS 